The hottest 🔥 of takes

Good morning! How can you tell that the 2024-25 college hoops season is near? Is it the exhibitions? The preseason polls? The updated rosters?

Nah. The Field of 68 After Dark is back. That’s how you really know.

1. You want takes? Tune into After Dark

First, a programming note: The Field of 68 After Dark is back with its regularly scheduled nightly show. And for those who aren’t quite ready to burn the midnight oil, it streams at 7 pm ET on Twitter/X or YouTube. Want to catch the replay? Subscribe to it on iTunes.

ANYWAY, you hopefully know all that and are just here for the takes.

Hm. Not sure the guys are in game shape yet.

It was a good effort, but but a Hot Takes show, most of these need more time in microwave. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you’d just like some measured, thoughtful analysis. (Even from Goodman.) Some examples:

Who will be the best team in the country?

• Goodman, Terrence Oglesby and Matt McCall all picked Kansas. Rob Dauster and Randolph Childress went with Alabama. (Watch out everybody!) Now, when pushed, Childress was the only one bold enough to offer anyone outside of those two and picked Gonzaga. So that’s a start.

Who’ll be the National Player of the Year?

• Matt McCall chose Hunter Dickinson, which might be a little warm considering the Kansas big man struggles on defense. Rob Dauster tabbed Mark Sears (boring, but probably accurate), while TO went with Cooper Flagg. Goodman said Alex Karaban could be a dark horse — especially if UConn gets to a Final Four — but it was John Fanta who actually delivered a take that wasn’t conventional: Marquette’s Kam Jones.

Who’s this year’s breakout star, a la Dalton Knecht?

• A solid set of takes from the crew. If you selected one mid-major player now at a power conference school who’ll be a household name, who is it? Goodman tabbed Xavier’s Ryan Conwell; TO went with Texas A&M’s Zhuric Phelps (and also likes Michigan State’s Frankie Fidler), McCall liked Auburn guard JP Pegues, Randolph thinks it’ll be UNC’s Cade Tyson, Fanta says Illinois’ Ben Humrichous, and Dauster thinking it’ll be West Virginia’s Tucker DeVries. All solid picks. (I’d highlight Oklahoma guard Duke Miles, but I fear he’ll be a great player on a so-so team.)

Who’s your Final Four darkhorse?

• A chance for a true hot take and highlight a team outside of the Top 25. And I gotta say, these were solid. Dauster’s all-in on Kansas State. He loves the idea that Dug McDaniel can be the new Markquis Nowell. TO picked Oregon, with a nod to sophomore guard Jackson Shelstad. Goodman says Illinois can do it. McCall likes the freshman duo of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper to lead Rutgers to the final weekend, while Fanta is playing to a rabid fan base by choosing Texas Tech.

Was there bulletin board material in there? Maybe not. But hey, that’s why you practice before the openers. The guys will get there. Tune in tonight for their ACC show and see if things heat up.

2. Will there be any surprises in the America East?

There are so few constants in college hoops. Between NIL and the transfer portal, things have shifted dramatically in the sport.

Yet through all that, the America East remains Vermont’s domain.

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